DRIVERS have been warned that they face fines if they skip a crucial step when clearing snow from their cars this winter.
Motorists in New York have faced penalties for failing to properly clear snow from their vehicles since December 2019, when the law came into effect.
The ruling states that car owners must remove any accumulation of snow, sleet, or hail that’s in excess of three inches from their vehicle’s surface.
This includes the roof, any cargo bed, trailer equipment, or any other cargo or occupant compartment.
According to Traffic Lawyer, the fine can range from $150 to $850, with the actual amount determined by the circumstances presented in court.
However, car owners can expect the minimum fine of $150 if found guilty, although no points will be added to their license.
Thankfully, the law does not apply when snow, sleet, or hail is currently falling, or within three hours after it has stopped.
Drivers are also exempt if snow covers their vehicle while it is parked and not being operated, while the law also does not apply to emergency or public safety vehicles.
Avoiding a fine is easy and simply requires properly removing snow, sleet, or ice before operating a vehicle, although drivers should take extra care to remove snow and ice from the entire surface of their vehicle.
For example, a fine can still be incurred for clearing only a small space on the windshield to see out of and leaving the rest.
If you receive a fine, it’s important to document the situation with photographs if possible, as well as note the time; a traffic lawyer will want to know the details of the incident if you want to contest the ticket.
This comes as a mechanic recently urged motorists to keep three items inside their car that could prove to be crucial during the colder weather.
In the winter, auto shops see an increase in visits as drivers experience a variety of issues with their vehicles – with worn-out batteries being a particularly common problem.
Car expert Ken Frederick said to KFYRTV: “In winter, you’re concerned about no heat in the cab. Your engine isn’t running as warm as you’d like it to.”
His colleague Kelsey Desroches also urged car owners to check tire tread, which must be in top condition when snow falls.
Desroches said: “As you drive and the snow gets compacted, if you don’t have any tread left, you can slide all over.”
Desroches also mentioned brake pads, another important car component that must be working correctly during snowy and icy conditions.
Desroches added: “Your brake pad is going to be metal on the metal rotor, and then that will prevent you from stopping.”
They said that warming up the car at least ten minutes before taking it on the road is an easy way to keep it in good working shape during the cold.
Drivers are also urged to use an engine block heater and read their vehicle manual.
Elsewhere, a woman from Crystal Lake, Illinois, was left stunned after she was hit with a hefty tow fee for her car to be moved just a few feet.
Jill Magiera told NBC Chicago she was charged $346 after her frozen vehicle was pulled out of a parking space by a towing company during the recent cold snap in the area.
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